Tête-à-Tête with Ronni and Moly

Excerpts from the interview:

Moly on her career
I'm entirely self-taught as a sari and dress designer for Shawdaminy, my boutique. Ronni helps me with this work. He used to do a lot of the basic work before but now I have some assistants too. After our marriage, Ronni had to steer away from academia and go into a lucrative profession. He has had solo exhibitions of his surrealistic paintings and drawings at the Alliance Francaise.

Getting to know one another
Ronni Ahmmad: Years back, we met at a restaurant; some months later our parents gave their mutual consent to our marriage. Now you see us with our two daughters, living contentedly in a joint family.

We listen to music in our leisure time. We are happy that both of us have different pursuits: we give space to each other, which is essential.

Role in each other's work
Ronni: I interact with critics, architects, artists, poets, intellectuals, and exchange views with them. Moly gives her assent to all that and more. She doesn't mind socialising. I even have a band of my own and Moly encourages me on that front also. I naturally have addas too where ghazals, Lalon songs and other genres of songs are sung such as that of DL Roy. I enjoy reading books on art, fiction and travel, among others. I try to keep abreast not only with fine arts but all aspects of culture.

Common interests
Ronni: As I've said before; we paint and design together, which for me is both a profession and a pastime. Moly comes to the performances of my band, for which I write the lyrics. She says that she loves the drumming and strumming in these programmes. We try to encourage each other in every possible way.